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Scouting at
Friendship Presbyterian Church
The scouting program at Friendship began between April 1946 and April 1947 with a Girl Scout Troop and Boy Scout Troop #49. The exact date of charter for Troop #49 is not recorded in the church history, but research by the troop shows that it existed as of May 1947. Current church members Swanton Ivy, Jr. and Chester Lee were among the first scouts and they continue as scout supporters, today. When the initial group of boys became adults in the 1950's, Troop #49 became inactive.
When the Troop was reactivated in May 1959, it was chartered as #149 because the number "49" was not available. Current members Ted Walker and Starr Lee began as Troop leaders for #149. Friendship has continued to sponsor Boy Scout Troop #149 since 1959. Friendship has also sponsored Girl Scout, Brownie Scout and Daisy Scout Troops at various times.
Currently, Boy Scout Troop #149 has approximately 70 boys and almost that many adults registered, in the Cherokee District (9-county area). The troop has been led by Paul Matthews since August, 1994. In 2006 Paul was awarded the Rotary International Cliff Dochterman Award which recognizes a Rotarian who provides distinguished service to Scouting, and he and other adults in the troop have also
been recognized with theSilver Beaver, DistrictAward of Merit, Scoutmaster of the Year, and other honors. Between 1959 and 1994 there were 22 Eagles in Troop #149; from 1994 to the present, there have been approximately 60 Eagles, as of the end of 2010. There are more than 100 Cub Scouts (elementary-aged boys) in Pack #149 under the leadership of Cubmaster Kevin Kiger.
Venturing Crew #149, the newest unit, is about 5 years old and serves approximately 20 young men and women ages 14 to 21. Cyd Wells is the Crew's Lead Advisor. Their activities include high-adventure camping and service projects. Both the troop and crew go on regular weekend camping trips near and far, and also summer adventures such as hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, sailing in the Bahamas/Florida Keys, and more!
The church is most appreciative that the scouts often help with projects such as setting up Christmas Eve luminaries, landscape maintenance, and preschool projects. Scouts from the troop coordinate about 20 different service projects benefiting the community each year, representing well over 12,000 hours of service in recent years.
Please visit http://www.oconeetroop149.org/ to learn more about Troop 149 and http://venture.oconeetroop149.org/ to learn about Venturing Crew #149.
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